Task force created to fight meth scourge

Published: Sunday, January 1, 2006 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 31, 2005 at 11:00 p.m.

Efforts to fight the growing problems with crystal methamphetamine expanded on a local level with the creation of Etowah County's Drug Enforcement Unit, which is now in operation.

The 14-member drug enforcement unit was organized through Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp's office and is working drug investigations across the county, in each municipality and the unincorporated areas, too.

Participation in the task force, which includes Gadsden and all other municipalities in the county, the Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office, is unprecedented and is a reflection of the seriousness of the methamphetamine problem in the area.

The problem is not limited to Northeast Alabama and is considered to be the No. 1 drug problem in the state.

A state law that went into effect July 1 restricts the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine tablets - the key ingredients in the manufacture of the meth.

Since that law has been in effect, drug task forces across the state have seen a dramatic drop in the number of meth labs found.

The number of trafficking arrests has increased, an indication that more meth is being imported into the area.

Harp said about 82 percent of all felony drug cases are related to meth. At least 85 percent of the children in foster care now are coming out of meth houses.

<p>Efforts to fight the growing problems with crystal methamphetamine expanded on a local level with the creation of Etowah County's Drug Enforcement Unit, which is now in operation.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>The 14-member drug enforcement unit was organized through Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp's office and is working drug investigations across the county, in each municipality and the unincorporated areas, too.</p><p>Participation in the task force, which includes Gadsden and all other municipalities in the county, the Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office, is unprecedented and is a reflection of the seriousness of the methamphetamine problem in the area.</p><p>The problem is not limited to Northeast Alabama and is considered to be the No. 1 drug problem in the state.</p><p>A state law that went into effect July 1 restricts the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine tablets - the key ingredients in the manufacture of the meth.</p><p>Since that law has been in effect, drug task forces across the state have seen a dramatic drop in the number of meth labs found.</p><p>The number of trafficking arrests has increased, an indication that more meth is being imported into the area.</p><p>Harp said about 82 percent of all felony drug cases are related to meth. At least 85 percent of the children in foster care now are coming out of meth houses.</p><p>- Lisa Rogers</p>